Made in Vermont Program Brings Long Trail Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Graders to Company’s Headquarters
From left, Long Trail seventh graders Savannah Petrossi and Ella Masker, along with Long Trail eighth grader Shaye Squillante, visit an assembly line during a visit to the Company’s headquarters in Arlington, Vt., Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016.
ARLINGTON, Vt. (Jan. 20, 2016) – Mack Molding, a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services, recently opened its doors to give students from the Dorset, Vt.-based Long Trail School an inside look at running a business in the Green Mountain State.
“As a manufacturer, people are among the most important contributors to our success,” said Mack Molding President Jeff Somple, “and as a Vermont business, we recognize the importance of inspiring the state’s next generation of engineers, technicians and professionals. These students are the future of Vermont and its businesses, and through programs like our Made in Vermont Days, internships and school visits, Mack hopes to inform them of the exciting career paths right here at home.”
The students were participating in the Long Trail School’s own Made in Vermont program, in which sixth, seventh and eighth graders visited several regional businesses to gain an appreciation for how the businesses operate.
“We wanted students to see how local businesses take an idea from inception – that is identifying a problem or need – through design to the creation of a product to sales and marketing, and ultimately how it gets to the consumer,” said Long Trail’s Dean of Faculty Jim Gedney. “This was a great opportunity for experiential learning in which the students received outside of the classroom context through adults in the business world.”
According to Gedney, at the conclusion of the visits students executed on their new knowledge by coming up with prototype products and pitches in the spirit of ABC’s popular Shark Tank TV show. In all, students visited eight businesses for inspiration. In addition to Mack, other participants included Hubbardton Forge in Castleton, Vt.; Authentic Design in Rupert, Vt.; J.K. Adams in Dorset, Vt.; Orvis in Manchester, Vt.; Bennington Potters in Bennington, Vt.; Manchester Wood in Granville, N.Y.; and Battenkill Creamery in Salem, N.Y.
Long Trail School sixth grader Bryce Coe takes a bird’s-eye view of Mack Molding’s Finishing Department as students begin a tour of the Company’s headquarters in Arlington, Vt., Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016.
“Middle school students are at a very open place for learning as they become more sophisticated in their understanding of things, moving from being concrete to analytical thinkers and learners,” Gedney added. “It means a lot to have the response we had from local companies at this critical time in their development, and we were impressed by their willingness to take time out of their busy schedules to host us. It shows a real interest in what the kids are learning in school and a real connection to the area – and the students come away with a better understanding of opportunities in the region.”
The Long Trail visit is just part of Mack’s longstanding commitment to encouraging Vermont’s best and brightest to use their talents to benefit the communities they call home, as well as the businesses that share them. The hallmark of Mack’s efforts is an internship program designed to have students work on meaningful projects that help move the business forward while giving them a significant achievement for their portfolios and resumes.
“We are quickly approaching 100 students who have been through the Mack internship program from schools like UVM, WPI, RPI and RIT,” Somple said. “We are now seeing some students return, which is truly rewarding not only because it validates our efforts, but because we see someone turn into a promising professional and hope we played our small part.”
About Mack Molding
Mack Molding is a leading custom plastics molder and supplier of contract manufacturing services. Mack specializes in plastics design, prototyping, molding, sheet metal fabrication, full-service machining and medical device manufacturing. Founded in 1920, Mack is a privately owned business that operates 11 facilities throughout the world. Don Kendall is CEO and chairman. For more information, go to www.mack.com.
About Long Trail School
Long Trail School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school located in Dorset, Vt. Founded in 1975, it serves 182 students in grades six through 12 from nearby towns in southwestern Vermont and New York state, as well as several countries. The school is approved by the Vermont State Board of Education, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and is authorized as an IB World School (#6248) by the International Baccalaureate Organization. For more information, visit www.longtrailschool.org.
Pictured, from left, are Long Trail School Director of College Consulting & Athletics Scott Magrath with students Bryce Coe, sixth grade; Savannah Petrossi, seventh grade; Ella Masker, seventh grade; Sophia Berumen, sixth grade; Shaye Squillante, eighth grade and Shayla Sisters, eighth grade; along with Mack Molding HQ Plant Manager Rich Hornby and Director of Human Resources Nancy Cefalo. Students toured the Company’s headquarters in Arlington, Vt., Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, to learn how business operate in the region as part of the school’s Made in Vermont program.
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